Gringo

The soft top on our '05 D-90 has completely fallen apart in the tropical sun. Actually, the straps rotted first, followed by the thread used to sew it together. In any case, it's basically shot: You can see that the straps inside even rotted away, although they are never exposed to UV. Since we just bought a 110, I no longer need the 90 to be any kind of passenger vehicle. I am planning to convert it to the truck style hood. I am finding two types on the internet, the "standard" truck cab hood that uses one hood stick and runs down behind the seats, and then there is an 'extended' truck cab hood that uses two hood sticks in the two sets of holes there, about six inches or so apart. I am curious as to whether any of you guys have any thoughts on which way to go? Is there any kind of advantage of one type over the other? I am thinking that if I add a roll bar later, the standard, short type of truck cab hood might be better even though it is less interior volume for the passengers. I am also concerned how to keep the spare tire attached to the bulkhead with a truck cab hood. I might have to fabricate some kind of spacer. This is the "extended" style: and this is the "standard", that only uses one hood stick. I am thinking that adding the military style roll bar later, it would look better if it was outside the hood rather than being inside it with the little bracing arms sticking out through it. Anyone have any experiences with any of these?

Well, dang, I hate to hear that. But thanks for the information, I was kinda afraid that would be the answer. The swing away carrier I have for the D-90 was a total pain in the glute. Its a shame that in all these years LR couldn't seem to come up with a single good way to carry a spare tire.

Well, yes, the roads are rough, and the vehicle needs to be able to handle that. It's a Land Rover. Rough roads are their claim to fame, I think. I am actually not too happy to have to be modifying one to do what it is supposedly designed to do in the first place. I suppose I need to take the plastic inside door liner off and see what we have in there. I don't like driving around here without a spare.

Oh, I have already run the gamut on the D-90. It came with the spare on the inside. I didn't like that, because it took up too much room, and obscured rear vision, etc. So we moved it to a bonnet mount. This was even MORE unsuitable for a number of reasons. I then bought, imported, and installed a swing away mount, which we have used for over a year. But it, too, proved unsuitable in the end. I just removed it, and put the spare back inside where it started. Not ideal, but the best place for it on a soft top D-90. Now, the rear door mounted carrier on the 110 seems to be a possibly reasonable choice for that vehicle. It doesn't allow the weight of the tire to lever against the offset hinges like the swing-away design does. When that door is closed, it seems to be well reinforced around the edges. The previous owners have removed the spare, due to failures of the mounting bolts on a number of other identical vehicles. I was told that the weight of the tire pulled the mounting bolts through the aluminum. I already know from experience that while picturesque, the bonnet mounts are unsuitable. It was a costly experiment for me the last time around. Now I am curious as to whether any other forum members have fabricated some kind of reinforcement plate to fit inside the door and spread the load of the tire on the 110.

We have added a second Defender, this one a 2005 110. This is in addition to the '05 D-90 we have been driving full time for the past two years. We were not really looking for a second vehicle, but a local construction company is liquidating a number of assets trying to survive the economy, and in this little podunk country we live in it is rare to see a used Defender come up for sale. Besides, we needed something with more seats, locking doors, a hard top, an air con etc. And the price was right. I asked the guy arranging the sale why the vehicles did not have spare tires mounted on the rear doors. The mount is there, and looks pretty solid. The manager for the construction company told me that they had removed the spares from ALL of their Defenders, because they were tired of the bolts ripping out through the aluminum rear doors. I can believe this. The roads are very rough here. I just moved the spare on the 90 back inside the bed, although I had just bought, imported, and installed a swing away mount for it less than two years ago. The rough roads were just beating it to death. So, my question is whether or not any of you guys have ever made up a set of reinforcement plates for the inside of the rear door? I was thinking if i got two thick strips of aluminum and drilled them to match the hole pattern, or alternatively one large piece, perhaps I could beef that mount up enough that it would take the pounding and not pull the bolts though. Is this a common problem?

you know, sometimes the day to day problems of living on a small tropical island just don't seem all that bad.

That's my philosophy, too. It's insane to spend a lot of time trying to harden the door lock in an aluminum vehicle. You need to step back and look at it from the thief's point of view. As long as there is a window, there is a quick, easy, and low tech way in. Don't leave valuables in plain view in the vehicle. Put an alarm in, if you really think you need it, but I would leave the doors unlocked. The difference will be in the amount of damage done to get to the stuff they want. Which they will get if they want it. Wouldn't hurt to hide an ignition cut out switch somewhere, to keep the entire vehicle from being driven off. But realistically...WHO remembers to flip the switch every time you get out? You'll do it for a few weeks until the novelty wears off, and then you are right back where you started. Less the cost of the switch you no longer use.

and of course the fact that I am an all around really nice guy and just as cute as a speckled pup, to boot. Oh, and modest. Did I mention modest?

I credit it to clean living...

Would you believe me if I told you the boat, motor, and trailer was a gift from a complete stranger that I have never met or spoken to, even to this very day? All our communication has been via email.

Well, that's a thought. But living over on this side of the pond, even in a Brit country, I doubt it. This is the type trailer we are talking about here: Kinda makes my little 90 look puny,doesn't it? And this is the bit I would have to find. And I doubt that finding that in 50 mm would be easy, or cheap. I bet I could buy a welder and learn how to use it for less money.

Ah well. Actually the two inch was a nominal number. What my trailer actually uses is 2 5/16".

So when were the two inch ones discontinued in the UK? There must be a box or two of them of them sitting around somewhere unsold since you guys went to 50 mm.

Oh yes, I have several of those now. Have one on the D-90, in fact in a 2 inch receiver type setup. It would not take much to cut a thick piece of angle iron, drill it to bolt to the vehicle with a hole for a tow ball like those. But those do not equal these: There is just something elegant about that design that I hate to lose. Strange thing to say about a Landy piece, isn't it.

Yes, I could get together with a welder and cobble up something that would bolt on to the mount, but it just would not be as nice a design as that forged, curved piece that came with the 110. It would be some welded together thing with right angles, etc. A pity.

Thats perfect. And while looking at that site, I discovered the little truck style canvas top, with a clear roll-up window. I am thinking that makes more sense here than an open bikini top for a vehicle that stays outside. Blowing road dust is a huge problem here. It's destroyed two radios in the 90 already. The dirt is just crushed limestone that was formed on the sea bottom. So the dirt has a salt content that only needs some rain to become seawater. I am wondering if there is room behind that soft top for the roll bar, and to still mount the spare on the bulkhead. You guys are helping enormously, as usual. The clutch master cylinder I replaced with your advice some months back is still working fine. Ah, I thought of another question! The 110 came with a towing package on the rear crossmember. (thats what the US calls a bumper,right?) It has a wonderfully designed tow ball on it, which is a curved base that bolts flat to a plate attached to the chassis, etc. We have two tons of boat, and this tow hitch is welcome. However, it appears to be 50 mm diameter. That's no good to me. Do you know of anyone who makes these in inches?

Well, thanks. That explains the terminology, or rather, defines the terminology. I am not sure why you need four terms for the same thing... Maybe both sides of the Atlantic should just call it 'canvas'. That would cover them all, wouldnt it. Top canvas and side canvas. And I am not even going to ask what 'mohair tilt' is. Sounds like something from a questionable video... I knew about the bonnet. I put aluminum bonnet plate on the 90 last year. I had to order the Euro pattern specially, as what they have up in the US is diamond plate. Different pattern. And I am assuming the term 'boot' is not applicable when discussing Defenders. Whew. We have become big time Defender converts. I would imagine we will probably have at least one in the stable from now on. Certainly as long as we live in undeveloped nations like this.

Oh yeah, I like that one. Thanks. I seem to have a difficult time getting companies in the UK to even respond to emails from me, but I will give it a try. What would really be good would be to find one company who can sell me the cubby, the roll bar, the bikini top, and a good swing away tire carrier for the 110 all in one initial purchase. With more to come. I am still struggling a bit with the terminology, by the way. to you guys, a 'hood' is a soft top, right? Canvas? And what we call a hood is what you call a bonnet.... IF I got that right, that a hood is a canvas top.....what's a 'tilt'??? And eyebrow arches definitely threw me.

That is a nice looking cubby they make. I notice that all their models have the radio box on them, though. That's not something I need, and it puts the coffee cup holders way close to second and fourth gear...

Thanks for the info. I emailed those people the day you posted that, and not a peep back from them. I guess my intention to buy a soft top, roll bar, bumpers, snorkel, etc. didn't get their attention. Having driven the 110 for a few days now, we really like it. It doesn't have quite the "oomph" the 90 does, but it also doesnt keep trying to shorten one's spine with the rear axle, either. So it looks like the 110 will become the wife's vehicle, and I am left with that little soft top 90 as a daily driver... One issue that has arisen, strangely enough, is the subject of cup holders. The 90 has the stock LR console/cubby and that has two cup holders built in. The 110 has this strange (albeit sturdy) little middle seat section in the front row, and no cup holders. I am thinking of buying a new, locking metal console/cubby for the 90, and moving that console to the 110, getting rid of the middle seat in the 110. This would solve the locking storage issue in the open 90, as well as giving us a place to store paperwork, etc. in the 110. Would provide cup holders in the 110 as well. Do you guys know of any good, secure consoles to fit between the seats of the 90? I am going to end up with an unused middle seat section from the 110 to throw out, which I am not too happy about. But that's life. Maybe I can think of a use for it. Does anyone make just cup holders to fit in a Defender?

Reads90, that is pretty much what I had in mind for the D90. Except I have given up on the idea of a swing-away spare carrier here. Just took one off. Free to a good home. Bumpy roads at 40 mph, it was destroying the body. And noisy. So our spare is back inside. You might notice no spare on the 110 either. The previous owner came to the same, independent conclusion. Where did you find that single hoop internal roll bar for your 90? That is what I am looking for. The suppliers in the States basically are still in a time warp selling stuff for Defenders up until 96 or 97, but they go blank and can't give a coherent answer if you ask them for anything newer than twelve years ago. "Will it fit a 2005?" "Uh....I dunno...are they the same as the 96?" I have had a few of those conversations. A shame, really, since we are only about 600 miles SE of the USA.

Hadn't really planned on buying another one. But we found out suddenly that several were coming up for sale, and we pretty much decided to buy the 110 spur of the moment. We know the people who run the company selling them, they construct major top end resorts (the West Caicos project, for one) and in this little nation Defenders don't come on the market often. Individuals tend to keep them. There is another '04 110, identical to this one, and three hard top 90's for sale, same color, all with less than 20,000 miles on them. You might have to come to a tropical island to test drive them...

Well, we just picked up a second Defender. This one a 110. We have been driving a D90 for a couple of years now,and when a local construction company trying to stay afloat decided to put several of their company Defenders up for sale we grabbed one. The rag top D90 is great,but there are times when we need to haul people around. Or be able to lock things up inside. And of course,it does rain from time to time. We must be nuts. Of course this gives me the green light to customize the little 90 a bit, now that it's no longer the family car. I am thinking a couple inches of lift, a roll bar, a bikini top, some offroad lights...a marine stereo system ( standard auto radios do not last a year here in an open vehicle. ) Yep. Nuts.

Yes, well, it wasn't exactly planned. In fact, I was looking at boats and thinking of what to do about this Suzuki Samurai that has been our second vehicle on this little island. We have had some issues with the size of the Defender 90. It's perfect for the two of us and one mouthy, obnoxious little Jack Russell, but we have five sons and sometimes they come down in various combinations to visit. Christmas we had six of us in the Defender, and it was not comfy. Nor safe, really,with a decaying soft top and some bent galvanized sticks ( I had carried several hundred pounds of lumber on top, whoops). Then we found out a local construction company is trimming overhead, and putting part of their fleet of company LRs up for sale, including (2) 110's. So yesterday we scooted over to take a look, and shook hands on a 2004 110 with a hardtop, diesel, and all the seats. 25,000 miles on it. small dents nothing much. For US $ 18K. So...now we own two of them. Hopefully can pick up the 110 today or tomorrow. I don't know what's going on. ME, a fifth generation Texan living in a small British country, with a British dog, and now owning two Land Rovers. If you see me reaching for the tea instead of coffee, please slap it out of my hand! I have long wanted to "sporterize' the D 90, and now I can! I am looking for a single hoop style roll bar to go behind the bulkhead, and a soft bikini top to just cover the front seats. I am having a hard time finding these. Do people just have local welders make them up on the spot, or does someone actually build roll bars as a product?

Ah this is all interesting stuff. Just last weekend I gave up on my swing away tire carrier. We started out with the spare inside the D90. It took up too much room, so I put it on the bonnet. I hated that. It flexed and bounced and was obviously going to destroy the aluminum, and it obscured vision, and it filled with dust and then when it rained we got mud from it all over the windscreen, plus it made lifting the bonnet to check the engine,oil, etc. a pain because I had to lift the weight of the tire as well. I wouldn't want to be under that if the bonnet fell. SO I ordered a swing away carrier and mounted it on that for the past year. We live three and a half miles from the nearest pavement, on a rutted, rocky road. And the rattling, banging noises from the spare were driving us bats. And it was slowly tweaking the rear panel, and constantly loosening. I kept putting thicker and thicker plastic spacers on the tail gate.. Finally, I gave up, junked the swing away carrier, and put the spare back inside. Now yesterday we bought another Land Rover Defender, this one a 110! IT has a hard top, and a spare carrier on the rear door. There is no tire on it. I asked the representative of the going-under construction company we bought it from why they took all the spares off, and he said that the weight of them on the bumpy roads here in were tearing holes in the rear doors. Doesn't seem to be any well-thought out solution to carrying a spare on a Defender, does it. Well, the good news for us is that now I can strip those useless seats, seat belts, and galvanized pipe soft top supports out of the D-90 and go for a sporty look! Anyone know of a good source for a roll bar and a bikini top for a D90?